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Hoody ‘Like You’ Music Video & Song Review

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Recently signed to AOMG from its parent company CJ E&M, singer-songwriter Hoody joined the likes of talented rappers such as GRAY, Loco, co-CEO Simon D, and CEO Jay Park. News of her addition (and, with it, its first female artist) to its expanding roster was already known ever since their official announcement at the label’s second anniversary celebration party back in December. A pregnant moment in AOMG history, this surely propagated any preexisting expectations for her solo “exclusive vocalist” debut.

Yet for Hoody, who was a former member of the all female underground hip-hop crew Amourette, and who we might remember as a feature on Jay Park’s 2015 single “Solo,” has already proven with her experience that she is more than capable of holding her own, especially in a male-dominated field. With her song and music video release for “Like You” on May 31st, the first AOMG lady once again slayed, tingeing the pool of testosterone with her provocative, gynic soul.

Song

For a label like AOMG that is known for its Korean hip-hop, it was a little surprising that Hoody’s “Like You” was not. Nor did it feature any of the label’s notorious rappers (albeit Gray helped produce), which would certainly have helped bolster her debut or given her an edge. Perhaps this was her way of saying “Let me do this,” or perhaps AOMG is the only sensible label to realize that not every song needs a rap breakdown. Ultimately, it all worked out for the single that is R&B through and through. It was almost jarring because the song was so R&B that it resembled the American R&B style of Cassie when she was in her prime.

Although Hoody has a ways to go before becoming a standard as well, her voice is seriously something lovely. She effortlessly switches between a silvery and honeyed tone, maintaining the right amount to sound youthful girlish while simultaneously appearing sultry and sensuous. Like water spilling over and permeating every crack and crevice of its buffer, she transitions fluidly to fill out the song, an impressive feat for one that lacks in any apparent pre-chorus. On the other hand, the hook is firmly there and though it plays it safe in terms of key changes, any sort of shock factor would have detracted away from the sedative ambience.


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Content-wise, it’s lo-fi without seeming underwhelming. She repeatedly croons the same words (“I was like you”) in a call-and-response manner in the chorus while the lyrics give a pithy overview of pining for an old lover. Threaded together by its 808 beats and ad-libs threatening on a higher tessitura, Hoody collaborated with Gray to produce a wondrous slow tempo track. Even when the dynamics grew loud, the texture still remained thin, creating an overall easy listen that is not boring even on the hundred and first listen.

Music Video

The music video takes an unfamiliar approach and divides itself into chapters at certain points of the song, evocative of a play or storybook. I’m not even going to pretend I understand the storyline of the music video, as it is one of the most interpretive pieces I have seen from AOMG, but it seems to depict the four stages of getting over a loved one through the lens of three different characters (symbolically they are probably the same person). The first chapter titled “Patients with the disease should be isolate” speaks to the seclusion and heartache of someone suffering from loss. It opens with one of the character – whom we shall call ‘A’ – voyeuristically watching another, ‘C,’ dance contemporary from the window of her trailer. ‘A’ can’t stomach her food and timidly reaches out to the outside world beyond her confined space, much like someone stuck in quarantine might. It’s evident that ‘C,’ dressed all in white and moving candidly in the open, represents the agency, the freedom, that ‘A’ so desperately yearns for.

via woe-is-tuli on Tumblr

The second verse cues in the second chapter, “pathogenic.her.him?,” which asks our character to investigate who exactly is the parasitic agent in this post-breakup relationship. Is he hurting you or are you hurting yourself? Here, the other character, ‘B,’ is introduced, and as we see in the following chapter, she acts as a liaison between ‘A’ and ‘B,’ provoking ‘A’ to come to her senses and allowing her to find herself in ‘C’.


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The third chapter, “Angst Essen Seele Auf” piqued my interest in particular not only for the climax moment where ‘A’ finally makes her escape, but also for its title that pays homage to the German movie “Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.” Explained by the film’s male protagonist, “Angst Essen Seele Auf” is an expression often used by Arabs to describe the corrupt nature of fear. ‘B’ substitutes ‘A’s’ place in the trailer, in turn liberating ‘A’ and prompting her to confront her surroundings.

And with the conclusive chapter, titled “White Rabbit,” we have the final stage of all “X” step programs: acceptance. The moment when ‘B’ holds up a mirror to the camera is the moment ‘A’ meets herself in her own reflection in the room with ‘C.’ Everyone is where they ought to be and it seems to end happily, or at least as happily as an abstract cinema graphic piece of art can get. I also wonder if the three characters reproduces Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of the three levels of mind (the conscious, the preconscious/subconscious, and the unconscious), especially since the title of the last chapter “White Rabbit” is one of the mystical figures used to lead one down into the hole of psychological discovery. I am still unsure if I hit the nail on the head with this one, but the more I re-watch the video and the more I play around with ideas, the more plausible everything starts to become.

via woe-is-tuli on Tumblr

Overall Thoughts

“Like You” is as beautifully shot as its message and its harmonies. Hoody could not have made a stronger solo debut under the reputable label, and I definitely look forward to her future releases. And though she has already wowed us with her independent can-do attitude, it would also be a waste if she did not lend her much talents to other R&B artists; a Hoody x DΞΔN blend, imagine that.

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What do you think of Hoody and “Like You”? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

13 K-Pop Videos to Get You into the Halloween Spirit

K-Pop Halloween BTOB ThrillerLadies and Gentlemen, the time of all things dark, spooky, and strange is upon us. With Halloween just around the corner, whether you want to party till the sun chases away the monsters or curl up in a dark corner watching a horror movie marathon, here are a few Korean music videos to help awaken your inner ghoul.

1.BTOB – “Thriller”

It can’t be Halloween without a few zombies. BTOB brings us a dark video that starts out in a creepy cemetery with their “zombie dance” opening. From the sharp and haunting dance moves to glowing eyes, “Thriller” perfectly expresses the dark theme while still remaining stylish and fresh. The song features powerful vocals from vocalists Hyunsik and Eunkwang mixed with fast and steady rap verses from Ilhoon and Minhyuk that accentuate the idea of invincibility and the fact that frightening things can be exciting, which is what Halloween is all about.sup

2.100% – “Beat”

This literal heart-wrenching video from 100% puts a dark spin on the classic Frankenstein story which features a girl harvesting parts from other members to bring the one she loves back to life. “Beat” prompts viewers to question how far would they go for love and dealing with the consequences. The smooth almost monotone feeling of the song explodes with the chorus,
where the group’s lead and main vocals Rokhyun and Hyukjin do a great job in expressing the pain and dark side of love.

3.BOYFRIEND – “WITCH”

BOYFRIEND’s “WITCH” is a dance song with a catchy hook about liking a girl that they probably shouldn’t. The video features a hot gang of vampires and Little Red Riding Hood the vampire slayer. . . It’s K-Pop so why not? The eerie background sounds mixed with the upbeat dance track and vampire visuals do well together to create a dark atmosphere perfect for any spooky
dance party.


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4.VIXX – “VOODOO DOLL”

At the climax of their dark/horror concepts, VIXX released the video for “VOODOO DOLL.” Unlike the typical bright bubbly  mages K-Pop is known for, VIXX did a complete 180 with everything from blood to voodoo possession. If you’re not a fan of the all the blood and gore, then you can opt for the clean version and admire the dance moves and large pin prop that VIXX incorporates, going along with the whole voodoo theme. But since it is Halloween, why not embrace the stunning visuals that VIXX created in all of its gory awesomeness?

5.BEAST – “Shadow”

BEAST totally embraces the whole dark and brooding theme with “Shadow.” A song written by BEAST’s very own rapper and composer genius Young Jun Hyung about being in darkness (or shadows, if you will) after losing a loved one. The song features great vocals and rap verses, not to be outdone by the dark post-apocalyptic imagery of the video.

6.Sunmi – “Full Moon”

Vampires are definitely a popular thing this time of year. Instead of a heart-pumping adrenaline rushing vampire image, Sunmi takes a more sexy dark approach to the whole blood sucking thing. “Full Moon” is a slow jazzy song perfect for those cold dark nights.

7.Kim Jae Joong – “Mine”

Kim Jae Joong, 1/3 of the popular group JYJ, stepped out with a solo rock song. From snowy forests to random evil foreboding animals and Jae Joong as a bedazzled Doctor Doom/Vampire/Angel. The video is filled with everything your dark goth-y heart would desire.

8.F(x) – “Red Light”

Now “Red Light” isn’t your typical Halloween spooky song full of pumpkins and monsters, although the video does have a black cat in it. The song and video gives off a dark and mysterious vibes that are perfect for this season.

9.Block B – “Jackpot”

Many people find clowns delightful, but if they are not really your style then the opening of Block B’s “Jackpot” will probably freak you out. The whole strange freaky theme is carried throughout the video with the band tormenting a girl with their crazy antics (though I wouldn’t mind at all).

10.Sunny Hill – “Midnight Circus”

Another group that likes to hang out at creepy circuses is Sunny Hill. In “Midnight Circus” the girls take a more sexy approach in a strange vintage looking circus in the woods. With an eerie intro, “Midnight Circus” plays nicely into the Halloween theme.


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11.Lee Jung Hyun – “V”

The video begins as any other horror movie; guy is stranded and wanders into a creepy old house were mayhem pursues. The Techno Queen Lee Jung Hyun takes a more fun approach to the whole creepy obsession thing and puts a fun quirky spin on the traditional haunted house.

12.LADIES’CODE – “Hate You”

Whenever girl groups do a dark concept, it usually comes off as sexy. On the contrary, LADIES’CODE does the dark concept in a more artsy way. Their whole doll concept is both strange and beautiful at the same time proving that you don’t have to be crazy or gory to send chills down someone’s spine.

 

13. Super Junior – “Opera”

Super boy band Super Junior puts out a dark Phantom of the Opera-esque video with “Opera.” In the video the boys vanishing and appearing like very stylish ghosts. Yes, this is the Japanese version, but the video fits the whole Halloween theme than the Korean dance version.

What’s your favorite Halloween song? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

2PM’s ‘My House’ Music Video & Song Review

2pm album cover 2

Two weeks after their initially planned date of release, 2PM is back with their fifth full album, appropriately titled “No.5”. Written and composed by oldest member Jun. K, “My House”  marks the return of the group ever since their last release “Go Crazy” in 2014. 2PM is back!

Meaning

It’s alright. Let’s go to my house
It’s alright. Just make it a secret
In 10 minutes I’ll be waiting for you over there
It’s alright. Let’s go to my house

Seemingly simple lyrics but have a subtle sensuality, which when placed in the context of the song and music video have a whole other meaning. The false assurances and confidence that we allow ourselves to believe in order to fulfill our own desires, these lyrics express it perfectly.


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Song

Jun. K is well-known not just for his vocal abilities, but also his songwriting abilities, as can be seen by his composing the title track for this album and the album before this. He doesn’t disappoint with “My House,” which combines a series of seemingly random sounds like the ticking of a clock and into an addictive dance track. The track also showcases each of the members’ vocal and rapping abilities, and in true 2PM style, gives equal parts to each member, allowing them to shine individually and as a group. The smoothness of their vocals adds to the sensuality of the lyrics and enhances the song. The chorus is very repetitive, which creates a hook for the song and makes it easy to remember.

Videography

2pm mv review

The music video is fairy-tale like, with the setting of a ball and with the people in the video dressed up formally. The colour tone of the video is more on the dark side, giving it a more dreamy feel. There are constant appearances of a clock which strikes midnight, along with the female character tossing her slipper on the staircase towards the end of the video, which is a play on the classic fairy-tale “Cinderella”. Other fairy-tale references in the video can be seen in the red apple the female character is seen eating (Snow White), the claws that appear on Chansung’s hands (Beauty and the Beast), the bunny singing the high-pitched and auto-tuned notes (Alice in Wonderland) and Taecyeon’s appearance as a wolf during his rapping scene (Little Red Riding Hood).

via wooyoungforever @ Tumblr

via wooyoungforever @ Tumblr

via wooyoungforever @ Tumblr

via wooyoungforever @ Tumblr

via wooyoungforever @ Tumblr

Style

As mentioned above, the video was set in a ballroom setting, hence explaining the extremely gorgeous ball gown the main female character is donning. The female character is played by none other than “Miss Korea” contestant Yumi Kim, who fits the role very well with her stunning visuals.

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In the dancing scenes, 2PM are dressed casually while they don fanciful suits in the rest of the video. They do look good in their suits, but there are certain hairstyles that do not suit them and make them look overly stiff. Similarly, they look comfortable and natural in their casual attire, but there are some outfits that just make them look plain weird. Still, 2PM’s natural aesthetics make up for the occasionally bad fashion choices.

via vseoks @ Tumblr


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Overall Thoughts

The music video wasn’t perfect, and neither was the song, but it was a great title track in all and showed 2PM’s continuous growth as artists. The music video was more symbolic and artistic than normal, but it still carried 2PM’s unique flavor. I’m certainly looking forward to their live performances of this song. Check out the music video below!


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